It's a multimillion-dollar ministerial blind spot that is being called into question. Opposition parties are demanding accountability after revelations millions of dollars was shelled out by the Ministry of Social Development to private landlords for often-substandard housing. A report from the Auditor-General has found the government had paid $37 million to use private rentals for emergency housing, without any checks. The Minister is pleading ignorance. Here's our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default default/index.html?videoId=6286889952001
In a report out today the Auditor General's office said the Ministry for Social Development could not show it received value for money for use of private rentals as emergency accommodation, nor did it monitor the quality of accommodation.
National Party leader Christopher Luxon says blaming a spending of $37m on inflated rentals for emergency accommodation on an "operational decision" is being used as cover to not be accountable.
Government spends $5.5 million on IT to charge for emergency motel stays
3 May, 2021 07:40 AM
4 minutes to read
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni said the spend was necessary. Photo / Samuel Rillstone, RNZ
RNZ
By Nita Blake-Persen of RNZ
The Government is being criticised for spending $5.5 million on IT changes so it could charge people living in motels for their emergency accommodation.
Since October, people living in emergency accommodation have had to pay 25 per cent of their income towards the cost of motels, bringing them in line with other social housing costs.
Prior to that their stay was covered by the Ministry for Social Development unless they failed to meet their obligations in searching for new accommodation.